I’m here, sitting on the deck of my cottage by the sea. It’s my fourth year here and the setting is pretty much the same. Same coffee maker, same comfortable lounge chair, same view. But of course the view is always different—each wave, each ray of sunshine on the clouds, each gull flying across the vista. Every year I have come here with specific intentions, with a project and with the hope and wonderment of what I might discover. I’m not talking about the scenery but about what might be important to me on my life journey. In 2009 I came here wanting time alone. Being by the sea was essential; serendipitously the doors of this cottage by the sea welcomed me in. I walked the beach and did a little quilting, but I just couldn’t concentrate on any craft. In 2010 I tried my hand at painting and collage. My worthy try lasted the season, but besides having no talent, I had no desire to put my heart and soul into it--undoubtedly the two go hand in hand. That year, however I began this blog, and discovered that my heart and soul were into experiencing silence, solitude and simplicity and sharing that longing with others, with the hope that I might inspire, affirm and encourage them on their journey. In 2011 my blog and longing continued. My mom died a month before my season at the cottage began, and so I spent the year grieving, remembering and being ‘very grateful’ for a mom who had lived 101 years and who had been with me for a very long time. Today is the first day of my fourth year at the CBTS. This year I have no projects, no specific agenda. Oh, I know I’ll read, meditate, walk, sleep, eat, do a jigsaw puzzle, write this blog…. But my plan is to be. I am content to watch the water, clouds, sun, moon, waves, whatever nature presents. For years I have been trying to BE and stay in the NOW; but this year something is different. It’s more than a longing; perhaps it is who I am becoming. Um, it almost feels like a project, the ‘do nothing’ project. Stay tuned.